Regional

Once again, bills have been filed in the Kentucky legislature that would provide a one-time death benefit to help the survivors of fallen employees of emergency medical services.

The state pays a lump sum to the families of firefighters and police officers who die in the line of duty, but not to the survivors of EMS workers. Survivors of paramedics in Lexington are eligible for the benefits because they are part of the fire department.

For the ninth year in a row, Kentucky ranks last among the 50 states for its protection of animals. That’s according to The Animal Legal Defense Fund, which bases its annual rankings on a comprehensive review of each jurisdiction’s animal protection laws.

There are 138 members of the General Assembly when it’s at full capacity, often working alongside the governor and his senior staff; lower-level constitutional officers like the attorney general; professional Frankfort lobbyists; citizens’ advocacy groups; and others buzzing about the Capitol. Here are a few people in particular to watch this year’s 60-day legislative session which began Tuesday:

Kentucky’s legislature returns to Frankfort on Tuesday for a 60-day session featuring an ambitious Republican governor who wants to shake up state government, a solidly Republican Senate that intends to help him and a House that almost has slipped from Democrats’ hands.

This was an eventful year for Kentucky businesses: Toyota accelerated, bourbon distillers rolled out more barrels, Tempur Sealy employees lost some sleep, King Coal coughed and wheezed, and so much more.

As Toyota marked its third year as the world’s top-selling automaker, the Georgetown assembly plant that since 1988 has been churning out Camrys, Avalons and Venzas opened a new production line in October to make the Lexus ES 350.

The first plank of the platform that Matt Bevin released as a longshot candidate for governor early this year is labeled: “Right to Work. Enacting Pro-Business Legislation.”

So as the Republican governor settles into office – with a shrinking Democratic majority in the Kentucky House – the outlook is better for passage of the so-called right-to-work bill that would ban union membership or payment of union dues as a condition for employment.

Recreational marijuana use would be legal in Kentucky in 2016 if proposed legislation becomes law.

State Sen. Perry Clark, D-Louisville, is sponsoring a bill called the Cannabis Freedom Act. The bill proposes to legalize recreational marijuana use for those 21 years or older, decriminalize offenses such as unauthorized growing and distribution and consuming cannabis in public and place an excise tax on the drug.

This was an eventful year for Kentucky businesses: Toyota accelerated, bourbon distillers rolled out more barrels, Tempur Sealy employees lost some sleep, King Coal coughed and wheezed, and so much more.

As Toyota marked its third year as the world’s top-selling automaker, the Georgetown assembly plant that since 1988 has been churning out Camrys, Avalons and Venzas opened a new production line in October to make the Lexus ES 350.

Kentucky Republican voters will vote for their presidential candidate in a March 5 caucus instead of a May primary election.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul asked the Republican Party of Kentucky for a caucus so he can run for both president and re-election to the U.S. Senate. The party’s central committee voted 111-36 in August to switch to a caucus. Paul has donated $250,000 and has pledged another $200,000 to pay the GOP for the caucus costs.